Michel Nkurunziza
Africa-Press – Rwanda. As a result of heavy rain, on Monday, October 2, a landslide trapped people, killing two and injuring eight during the renovation works for the Rwamatamu Memorial Site in, Gihombo sector, Nyamasheke District.
The district, in Western Province neighbouring Nyungwe forest and Lake Kivu, is among several regions expected to experience significant rainfall ranging between 700 and 800 millimetres up to December.
Athanasie Mukankusi, the district’s Vice Mayor in Charge of Social Affairs told The New Times that engineers have intervened to ensure more landslides do not cause fatalities and destroy the memorial site.
The residents were constructing a wall for the memorial site when the landslide trapped some as others survived, she said.
Over 80 people were being engaged in the renovation works, and on Monday, they temporarily halted activities.
Those injured were taken to Mugonero Hospital. Four of them are in critical condition.
“We hope that they will recover as a medical team is working tirelessly to save their lives,” she said.
Those who passed away include 57-year-old Jonathan Ndahimana and 18-year-old Phanuel Bizimana. The injured include James Niyireba, 24, Jean Pierre Sibomana, 28, Bosco Minana, 41, Alphonsine Mukakina, 30, Andre Bimenyimana, 53, Rachel Bora, 23, Vedaste Nsengiyumva, 18, and 19-year-old William Ishimwe.
Meanwhile, Mukankusi said, the works at the memorial site housing over 47,000 remains of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi will resume soon.
About 1,000 families to relocate
“We continue to raise awareness about disaster prevention measures during this period of heavy rain. Some 928 families have to relocate from high risk zones. Those financially capable can build houses can use their resources, others can meanwhile seek shelter from neighbours as government intervenes,” the vice mayor said.
She said that residents were educated on strengthening roofs amidst strong winds and other preventive measures.
The wind speed distribution shows that strong wind speed ranging between 6m/s and 12m/s is expected across the country in the next 10 days.
A report by the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) indicates that 200 disaster incidents were recorded in September alone this year, killing 20 people.
Meteo Rwanda, the national meteorological agency, has predicted rainfall with thunderstorms in the first 10 days of October across various parts of the country.
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